Summer Sounds Concert Series Returns to Heritage Square May 31

KATY, TEXAS (April 25, 2012) – Live music returns to LaCenterra at Cinco Ranch with the 2012 Summer Sounds concert series. Guests are invited to unwind after a long day or get a jump on the weekend with this Thursday evening series featuring a talented line-up of local and regional artists. The Summer Sounds series offers a sizzling mix of Caribbean country, reggae, zydeco, blues and Latin dance.

The Summer Sounds series kicks off May 31 with the return of Jerry Diaz & Hanna’s Reef. Break out the tropical shirts and flip flops for this opening night of coastal country and classic beach favorites straight from Margaritaville. Jerry Diaz is a songwriter with sea salt in his veins and a gypsy spirit in his soul. His band, Hanna’s Reef, is the premier Gulf Coast Beach Band. Based out of the Galveston Bay-Port Arthur area, this ensemble knows firsthand about life on the Texas coast.

Jerry Diaz & Hanna's Reef performs a mixture of its own extensive catalog of original beach and sailing songs mixed with classic Jimmy Buffett cover tunes and a splash of percussive tropical flavor. The group never forgets its roots - you'll hear a little bit of Texas music, as well as songs with a distinctive Cajun influence.

Potbelly serves its reggae with a little rock n’ roll on the side June 7. Potbelly is a four-piece alternative/reggae/rock band from Houston. Influences such as Sublime, Nirvana, Queens of the Stone Age, The Misfits and countless other bands have helped shape its music into a style that can only be described as unique. The band includes Erik Smith (vocals/guitar), Erin Massey (bass), Eric Vaughan (drums) and Austin Bradshaw (lead guitar, keys, and backup vocals). Recent accomplishments include winning the best reggae/dub category at the 2010 Houston Press Music Awards and a nomination by 94.5 FM, The Buzz, for local band of the year in 2011. For more information on Potbelly visit www.potbellymusic.net.

The Zydeco Dots plan to move you with a Gulf Coast groove June 14. Since forming locally in 1987, the Zydeco Dots has been cookin’ up the area’s best representation of this high energy descendent of traditional Creole folk music and serving it to new audiences across Gulf Coast. The Zydeco Dots have won numerous accolades including best zydeco band as voted by the Houston Press. The band has backed up many accordion players over the years including such notables as C J Chenier, Pierre Blanchard, Leon Sam, Pierre Stout and Wilfred Chavis. Visit www.zydecodots.com for a taste.

La La Wilson & Company trace the roots of Houston blues June 21. Simply said, La La Wilson is blues history. This bass-playing local legend was the bandleader for Sam Cooke, Louis Jordan and backed such artist as the Four Tops, The Temptations, B. B. King, Johnny Taylor and many others. He cut the sound tracks for the movies "A Raisin in the Sun" and the popular original surfside cop drama, "Hawaii Five O."

Starting his career in the city of Houston, Texas he gigged around town with local greats such as Roy and Grady Gaines, Joe Bell, Otis Turner, Johnny Clyde Copeland. With the band Jazz Crusaders, he left for California to find his fortune in music. The rest, as they say, is history. Now living locally again, there is no telling what blues royalty might show up on stage when La La throws a party! Sample the sounds of La La Wilson & Company at www.myspace.com/lalaandcompany.

Houston’s hippest, young Latin dance band, JALEA, brings the Summer Sounds series to a high-energy, close June 28. Back by popular demand – the name JALEA, Spanish for “jelly,” says it all to music fans who love to shake and shimmy on the dance floor. The group’s repertoire includes salsa, merengue, bachata, cumbia, reggaeton and Latin pop, as well as disco and swing favorites.

JALEA’s musicians have résumés that include gigs with such luminaries as Tito Puente, Celia Cruz, Grupo Niche, El Torito, Marcos Witt and many more. The multi-faceted members of JALEA each play a variety of instruments and are equally comfortable on vocals, providing a powerful, multi-dimensional sound in a compact and dynamic package. Short of a trip to Rio, this might be the closest one can come to the sound of Carnaval. For more information about JALEA visit them at www.reverbnation.com/jalea.

The Summer Sounds concert series is presented by LaCenterra and its retailers. Weather permitting, performances will be held from 6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. in Heritage Square, LaCenterra’s central courtyard. (Rescheduled dates for any cancellations will be posted online at www.LaCenterra.com, on www.facebook.com/LaCenterra and @LaCenterra on twitter.) The all-ages shows are free and open to the public. Food and nonalcoholic beverages are available from LaCenterra restaurants and specialty food retailers. Courtyard beverage service will be provided by Baker St. Pub & Grill.

The Summer Sounds series is the precursor to LaCenterra's biggest community party – the LaCenterra July 4th BIG Backyard Barbecue. The annual Independence Day celebration will be held Wednesday, July 4 from 5:30 p.m. – 9:45 p.m. and includes live music, fireworks and more. Details forthcoming.